What has happened to the Maine Public Utilities Commission? It used to be a respite from politics, relying on a strong staff, expert opinion and transparent analysis to guide Maine’s energy policy. But recent decisions show that our current PUC has little regard for its staff or the opinions of the expert consultants it has hired. Instead, it’s become a mouthpiece for Gov. LePage.

There is no clearer example of this than the PUC’s recent decision to approve a proposal that will allow multinational gas companies to foist the cost of new natural gas infrastructure onto the electric bills of all Mainers, contrary to the recommendation of its own staff – and the experts on which it spent thousands of dollars.